Balmoral Park

BUSY NIGHT OF STAKES ACTION AT BALMORAL

Riccolo and Marcus Miller completely overwhelmed their rivals in the $12,000 Betzotic Stake giving the 3yo gelding seven straight wins to open his sophomore campaign.

It was a very busy night of stakes action for Illinois conceived and foaled pacers and trotters on Wednesday night as the Crete plant played host to a trio of state-bred events for two and three-year-olds.

The most impressive effort of the night came from Walter and Paige Paisley’s Riccolo, who kept his perfect 2012 record intact as he romped home to a 9 ¼ length victory in a career best of 1:54.3 while capturing the $12,000 Betzotic Stake for three-year-old colt and gelding trotters.

Showing much more early speed than he has in his recent victories, driver Marcus Miller sent the son of Northern Kid away from the gate where he neatly tucked in behind a head strong Power Net Gram (Todd Warren) who led the field through opening splits of 28.3 and 57.4.

With an outer flow starting to develop as the field moved mid-way around the final turn, Miller maneuvered the Nelson Willis charge out of the pocket and the gelding responded beautifully, easily gobbling up the pace setter as the field reached the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:26.3.

Through the stretch the issue was never in doubt as Riccolo continued to increase his advantage over his rivals, cruising under the wire with his seventh straight victory this season while in hand to Miller. Power Net Gram held on for second while Fox Valley Steffen (Dale Hiteman) was a distant third.

Riccolo now boats a career record of 8-1-0 in 10 starts with earnings of $54,260.

Dune In Red and driver Mike Oosting used the passing lane to perfection to give the 2yo filly three straight wins to open her career as they captured the $15,000 Incredible Tilly Stake.

Another undefeated streak was on the line in the $15,000 Incredible Tilly Stake for ICF two-year-old pacing fillies and Mike Einhaus’s Dune In Red remained perfect to start her career, posting her third win in as many tries, knocking off seven rivals by 3 ¾ lengths in 1:56.1.

Forwardly placed throughout the mile by driver Mike Oosting, the daughter of Duneside Perch-She Has The Look rushed into the lead after a slow opening quarter of 30.1.

Shortly after gaining control of the proceedings Oosting elected to let a hard-charging The Bruzilian Blur (Brian Carpenter) take command as the field rolled by the half-mile mark in 58.3.

Content to draft along in the pocket, Dune In Red was fit and fresh as The Bruzilian Blur tried to fend off a bid from a first over Fox Valley Ruby (Dean Magee) as the youngsters reached the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:28.0.

Patiently awaiting the passing lane while those two continued to slug it out, Oosting then maneuvered the Robert Einhaus-trained miss down to the pylons and the good looking chestnut responded like a seasoned veteran as she went cruising by her rivals to remain undefeated. The Bruzilian Blur hung on for second while Incredible Filly (Dave Magee) rallied for third.

Little Ms Chrissy with driver-trainer Robert Taylor at the controls made her career debut a winning one, capturing the $6,000 Star Slinger Stake.

Freshmen trotting fillies completed the trifecta of stake events as a field of nine diagonally gaited youngsters battled in the $6,000 Star Slinger Stake.

Once again showing a knack for developing early talent, owner-trainer-driver Robert Taylor looks to have another nice youngster in his barn as $3,500 bargain buy Little Ms Chrissy made her career debut a winning one, scoring by a half-length in 2:00.3.

Saddled with post position eight the daughter of Southwind Breeze-Fox Valley Shiraz made a slight bobble while looking for an early spot, causing Taylor to steady the filly and make his way over to the pylons in seventh as Trot Fudge Sundae (Mike Brink) led the field through splits of 30.1 and 1:00.4.

Storming up first over from the back of the pack as the field moved around the turn, Taylor had Little Ms Chrissy just a head behind Trot Fudge Sundae as they raced by the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:32.0.

Leaving the rest of the field in their dust these two fillies waged a stretch long duel with Little Ms Chrissy finally nudging by her rival in the closing yards to pick up her first victory. Trot Fudge Sundae was a gallant second while Elegant Rosie (Mike Oosting) finished a distant third, 15 ¾ lengths behind the top pair.

About Balmoral Park: Located in Crete, IL just 12 miles south of 80/94; Balmoral Park has been one of the nation's premier horse racing facilities since 1926. Balmoral Park features live racing every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Admission and parking is always free.